Flapping wing toy



May 12, 1953 w. E. POLK 2,637,935

FLAPPING WING TOY Filed Oct. 27, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR ATTORNEYS May 12, 1953 w K 2,637,935

FLAPPING WING TOY Filed Oct. 27, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES .PATENT' OFFICE FLAPPING WING TOY William Eugene Polk, Shreveport, La.

Application October 27, 1948, Serial. No. 56,683

2 Claims. (Cl. 46-118).

toy which simulates a bird, bat, butterfly, or

other creature, provided with moving wings, the toy of the present invention being provided with a noise maker, the toy being easily operated to provide the wings with an oscillating movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part oi this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a bottom plan view of the toy of Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3---3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a viewsimilar to Figure 3, but showing the wings in raised position;

Figure 5 is. a perspective view showing the frame;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line t6 of Figure 1;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing the noise maker;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, but showing the spring of the noise maker expanded;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing certain constructional details of the noise maker;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken through the pivot spring mounting;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional View showing a modified form of the invention, wherein the noise maker is omitted;

Figure 12 is a plan view of another modified form of the invention;

Figure 13 is an end elevational view of the assembly of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a modified frame;

Figures 15 and 16 are fragmentary sectional views illustrating the movement of the parts of Figure 14.

Referring in detail to Figures 1 through 10 of the drawings, there is shown a toy which is adapted to be manually actuated. and wherein the toy includes a. pair of levers and 3| which may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as who. The lever 33 has one of its ends shaped to define a handle portion 32, while the other lever 31 includes a similar handle portion 33, the handle portions 32 and 33 being adapted. to be manually gripped for causing pivotal move,- ment of the levers 34. and 3|. The lever 3.0 includes a pair of sections 34 and 35, while the lever 3t includes a pair of sections 36 and 31, Figure 1. The lever 30 has. its sections 34 and twisted together to form an intermediate twisted section or portion 38, while the lever 3| is also provided with an intermediate twisted portion or section 39. One end of the lever 30 is straight, as at 40, while the other lever 3| also has a straight portion M for a purpose to be later described.

A spring pivotv mounting is arranged between the pair of levers 3t and 3 I, and this spring pivot mounting is indicated by the numeral 42, Figure 10. The pivot mounting 42 includes a pair of opposed blocks 43 and 44. The block 43 is secured to the lever 30 by suitable wires or cables 46, while the other block 44 is secured to the lever 3| by similar Wires 46. A spring member 45 has its ends connected to the pair of blocks 43 and L4, and the spring member 45 serves to normally urge the handle portions 32 and 33 away from each other. When the handle portions 32 and 33 are squeezed together, the handle portions pivot about the spring member 45 and assume the position shown in Figure 1. When manual pressure is released on the handle portions 32 and 33, the spring member 45 serves to urge the portions 32 and 33 apart.

A pair of wings 48 and 49 are provided for the toy, and the wings. 43 and 43 are adapted to be flapped or oscillated upon pivotal movement of the levers 3i! and 3!. The wings 48 and 49 are pivotally connected to a bolt 4'! which is arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect tothe straight portions 4t and 4|. The wing 48 includes a pair of arms 50 and 5| that may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as wire, and formed integrally with the arms 56 and 5! is a web 52. Arranged between the pair of arms it and M is a brace 53, and an end portion 54 of the arm '51, is bent angularly with respect to 3 the main portion of the arm 5| and secured to the brace 53. The brace 53 is shaped to provide an eyelet 55, and a portion 56 of the lever 38 is shaped arcuately to define a guide member for slidably projecting through the eyelet 55.

The arm 58 is shaped to provide a coil 51, while the brace 53 is also provided with a coil 58, the coils 51 and 58 pivotally engaging the rod 41. Extending from the coil 57 is an offset section 59, while extending from the coil 58 is an offset section 68, the sections 59 and 69 being interconnected together by a link 9| which is arranged contiguous to the straight portion 4|. The link 6| is provided with a pair of coils 83 and 62 which pivotally engage the straight portion 4|.

The other wing 49 has a construction that is similar to the wing 48, and the wing 49 includes a pair of arms 94 and 65 that are interconnected together or have formed integrally therewith a web 61, there being a brace 68 arranged inbetween the arms 84 and 65. The brace 68 is provided with an eyelet 69 through which slidably pro-- jects a guide member 18 that extends from the lever 3|. The arm 84 is provided with a coil H which rotatably engages the rod 41, and an olfset portion 13 connects the coil H to a. link 12 that has coils 28 and 28 engaging straight portion 48. The brace 88 is provided with a coil 14 that rotatably o-r pivotally engages the rod 41, and an offset portion connects or extends from the coil 14 to the link 12.

Extending over the wings 48 and 49 is a cover 16 which may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as crepe paper or flexible cloth. The cover 16 may be shaped so that its external configuration conforms in shape to the wings of a butterfly, bat or other creature. The cover I8 is shown in broken lines in Figure 1, but in solid lines in Figures 3 and 4.

Connected to the toy of the present invention is a noise maker which is shown in detail in Figures 7 and 8. The noise maker includes a spring 11 that has one end 18 connected to the twisted portion 38 of the lever 39. The coil spring 11 extends below or through an arcuate guide member 19, so that as the levers 38 and 3| are pivoted back and forth, the spring '11 will engage: the guide member 79, whereby a noise will be emitted, whereby the toy will be more realistic.

Referring to Figure 11 of the drawings, there is shown a slightly modified form of the invention, wherein the noise maker is omitted. Thus, in Figure 11 a coil spring 89 has one of its ends 8| arranged in engagement with the twisted portion 39 of the lever 3|, while the other end 82 of the spring 88 is arranged in engagement with the twisted portion 38 of the lever. The spring 88 serves to augment the efiect of the spring 45 when large toys are used.

Referring to Figures 12 and 13 of the drawings, there is shown another modified form of the invention, wherein the toy is indicated by the numeral 83. The toy 83 includes a pair of oscillating wings 84 and 85 that may be fabricated of any suitable rigid material, such as wood. The levers 38 and 3| are again provided for causing oscillation of the wings 84 and 85, there being an opening 88 in the wing 84 for the proiection therethrough of the guide member 55. Similarly, the wing 85 is provided with an opening or vided with coils 98 which rotatably engage the rod 41, and the bracket 88 is further provided with coils 9| that rotatably engage the straight portion 4| of the lever 3|. The bracket 92 is secured to the other wing 85 by screws or other securing elements 89, and the bracket 92 includes coils 93 that rotatably engage the rod 41, there being a second pair of coils 94 on the bracket 92 for rotatably engagingthe straight portion 48 of the lever 38. Hence, upon actuation of the handle portions 32 and 33, the wings 84 and 85 will be caused to flap or oscillate. It will be noted that the front portions of the wings 84 and 85 coact to form a head which resembles the head of a creature.

Referring to Figures 14, 15 and 16 of the drawings, there is shown another modified form of the toy of the present invention. Only a portion of the toy is shown, and the mechanism shown in Figures 14, 15 and 16 is adapted to be used in lieu of the mechanism shown in Figure 5. By using the assembly of Figures 14 through 16, upon movement of the handle portions 32 and 33 toward each other, the wings 48 and 49 will be lowered instead of being raised, as is the case with the assembly of Figure 5. The assembly shown in Figures 14 through 16 includes a bracket 95 that comprises an arm 98 and a brace 91, there being coils 98 arranged on the bracket 95 for rotatably engaging the rod 41. A second pair of coils 99 are provided on the bracket 95 for rotatably engaging the straight portion 4| of the lever 3|. The bracket 95 is adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to a'wing, such as the wing 49.

A second bracket I88 includes a brace NH and an arm H12, and the bracket I also includes a pair of coils I83 that rotatably engage the rod 41, there being a second pair of coils I84 on the bracket I88 for rotatably engaging the straight portion 48 of the lever 38.

In use, a child grips the handle portions 32 and 33 in the hands and moves the handle portions toward each other. As seen in Figures 1 through 10, as the handle portions 32 and 33 are moved toward each other, the levers 38 and 3| will pivot about the spring mounting 42 so that the straight portions 40 and 4| will move away from each other. This will cause the wings 48 and 49 to move downwardly from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 3. Upon release of pressure on the handl portions 32 and 33, the spring 45 will cause the wings to move from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4, and uponcontinuation of this operation the wings will be caused to oscillate or flap.

Referring to Figures '7 and 8 and 9, it will be seen that as the levers 38 and 3| pivot back and forth, the spring will rub against the guide member 19, whereby a noise will be emitted. Thus, the toy will have a realistic sound as well as a realistic appearance. In Figures 12 and 13 there is shown a modified form of the apparatus, wherein the wings 84 and are made of a rigid material, and these wings will becaused to oscillate or flap upon pivotal movement of the levers 38 and 3|. In Figures 14 through 16, there is shown a modified portion of the framework, wherein the wings will flap or oscillate in the opposite direction from that shown in Figures 1 through 10. Th s, the assembly shown in Figure 14 is adapted to be used in lieu of the assembly shown in Figure 5, so that when the handle portions 32 and 33 are moved toward each other,

the wings will initially move from a clown position to an up position. Then, when the pressure on the handle portions 32 and 33 is released, the wings will resume their lower position.

The toy of the present invention can be simply and inexpensively manufactured, and the various swivel joints can be made by twisting wire into an eye-type bearing surface at the desired point. Further, in lieu of using wire, ribbon material may be used, and the spring 45 serves to maintain the levers 30 and 3! immobile until a manual force is applied to the handles 32 and 33. The coil spring 80 is advantageous when larger models of the toy are being used, as when added tension is required in the operation of the toy. This framework may be shaped to resemble birds, bats, butterbies and th like, and fanciful ornaments or objects may be painted on the wings. Further, an electrically operated mechanism can be provided for causing oscillation of the wings.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy having the external configuration of a creature, a pair of levers each provided with a handle on one end thereof, a spring mounting arranged between said levers, said spring mounting comprising a pair of blocks secured to said levers, a spring member connecting said blocks together and normally urging said handles away from each other, a rod arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to the other ends of said levers, a first and second wing mounted for oscillatory movement, said first and second wings each including a frame fabricated of wire shaped to define a pair of arms having one end interconnected together by a web, a brace extending between said pair of arms, the brace of one wing being arranged in alignment with the brace of the other wing, a portion of one of said arms extending angularly with respect to the main portion thereof and secured to said brace, said other arm and said brace each being provided with a coil pivotally engaging said rod, said coils terminating in offset portions, a link extending between said offset portions and provided with a pair of coils pivotally engaging one of said levers.

2. In a toy having the external configuration of a creature, a pair of levers each provided with a handle on one end thereof, a spring mounting arranged between said levers, said spring mounting comprising a pair of blocks secured to said levers, a spring member connecting said blocks together and normally urging said handles away from each other, a rod arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to the other ends of said levers, a first and second wing mounted for oscillatory movement, said first and second wings each including a frame fabricated of Wire and shaped to define a pair of arms having one end interconnected together by a web, a brace extending between said pair of arms, the brace of one wing being arranged in alignment with the brace of the other wing, a portion of one of said armsextending angularly with respect to the main portion thereof and secured to said brace, said other arm and said brace being provided with a coil pivotally engaging said rod, said coils terminating in offset portions, a link extending between said offset portions and provided with a pair of coils pivotally engaging one of said levers, and a spring member defining a noise maker.

WILLIAM EUGENE POLK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 781,104 Slinn Jan. 31, 1905 837,217 Gilbert Nov. 27, 1906 1,907,887 Spencer May 9, 1933 2,182,406 Ogsbury et a1 Dec. 5, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 420,700 France Dec. 1, 1910 297,682 Germany May 8, 1917 

